New crisis in Africa - 10 million people need immediate food relief

Trócaire has launched an emergency appeal for east Africa after the worst drought in sixty years has left up to ten million people in need of immediate food aid.

The organisation has warned that Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are facing "a humanitarian crisis which is getting worse by the day".

Prolonged drought has led to crop failure which has put up to ten million people in urgent need of food. Animals are dying in large numbers and in certain areas one in every fourth child is dangerously malnourished.

Trócaire today warned that the deteriorating situation could have "catastrophic consequences" for people in the region.

"The situation in east Africa is extremely serious," warns Maurice McQuillan, Trócaire's Humanitarian Programme Manager. "Malnutrition rates are up to five times higher than the emergency threshold and up to ten million people are facing severe food shortages.

"A combination of drought and rising food prices has pushed the region into a humanitarian crisis which is getting worse by the day. Crops have failed and animals are dying. Without the help of the international community, this drought could yet turn into famine with catastrophic consequences for millions of people."

Trócaire has launched an emergency response to the situation in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia and is funding ten separate drought response projects in the region. These projects are bringing food to communities suffering the worst effects of the drought.